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COPYRIGHT DEPOSre 



VERSES 

By Marjorie Dyrenforth 




CHICAGO 
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TEN 




COPYRIGHT 

NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TEN 

BY 

MARJORIE DYRENFORTH 



©CU259243 






OIo My Brother 



THIS EDITION, PRIVATELY PRINTED 
IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TEN, 
IS LIMITED TO FIFTY COPIES. 



CONTENTS 

To Father and Mother 7 

The Beacon 8 

The Joy of Living 10 

A New Year's Greeting 11 

To Katharine 12 

Rosamond 13 

A Suffragette 14 

Grannie's Knitting 15 

The Betrothal 16 

Spring Song 20 

The Easter Bonnet 21 

Mackinac Woods 22 

Twilight at Mackinac 23 

An October Day 24 

The Season's End 25 

Snow-Flakes 26 

A Christmas Card 27 

The Man in the Moon 28 

Sing a Song of Happiness 29 

To A Miniature 30 

In Arcady 31 

The Wind-Flower 32 

Sonny 34 

The Chaperon Speaks 35 

In My Lady's Chamber 36 

Speaking of Incubators 39 

A Hut on the Mountain 40 

The Daffodil 41 

LOCHINVAR Up TO DaTE 42 

A Token 43 

An Acceptance 44 



CONTENTS— Continued 

Regrets 45, 

An Invitation 46' 

To THE Bride 47 

Retribution 48 

The Morning Star 50- 

Dew-Fall 51 

By-Lo 52- 

An Idle Lay 53, 

Dorothy Trott and the Spider 54 

Tommy Love joy 55 

Angelica Milde 56 

Naughty Billy 57 

Lullaby Land 58 

The Manx Cat 59. 

The Village Cobbler 6o' 

When Miss Helen Goes A-Walking 61 

Heart o' Mine 62 

Evensong 64. 

Margins of the Day 65 

Au Revoir 66' 



Q 



To Father and M other 

TO FATHER AND MOTHER. 
On Their Wedding Anniversary, 

OUR wedded years have numbered now 
The total sum of three and twenty. 
May Fate continue to endow 
You both with blessings rich, in plenty. 

As Nature lays her green aside 

For softer shades of brown and yellow, 

So may you gradually glide 

Within life's twilight, soft and mellow. 

And in this haven may you rest, 

Long sheltered from all stormy weather ; 

Possessing that of all most blest — ■ 
A life of harmony together. 



T h e Beacon 



THE BEACON. 



rsTnlHOSE humble dwelling crowns the rocks. 

lyj Of Borough-by-the-Sea? 

■JkJI Whose garden is it, edged with box, 
So gay with phlox and hollyhocks, 
And barred to whomsoever knocks? 
'Tis that of Myra Lea. 

The sun has sunk beyond the hill 

With lingering regret. 
The weary birds have ceased to trill, 
The air is turning damp and chill, 
And yonder lamp which gilds the sill 

Projects her silhouette. 

Unlike the village maids was she, 

So simple, poor and plain. 
She went her way, her heart as free 
As was her birth from pedigree ; 
No suitor had poor Myra Lea, 

No lover in her train, 

Until at length there crossed the bar 

Of Borough-by-the-Sea, 
A vagrant vessel from afar, 
Among whose crew a popular 
And careless, serenading tar 

Made love to Myra Lea. 



T h e Beacon 



The village cronies glanced askance 
Upon so strange a sight, 

And gossiped on the circumstance ; 

But Myra, blessed with ignorance, 

Advanced among them in a trance, 
Unconscious of their slight. 

Thus April gave the reins to May, 

As Nature doth decree. 
Yet ere there dawned the wedding day 
The townsfolk murmured in dismay, 
For lo! the ship had sailed away 

From Borough-by-t he-Sea. 

For many years yon lamp has burned, 

A beacon o'er the sea. 
And all the while yon soul has yearned. 
Whose eyes as yet have not discerned 
The ship which never more returned 

To faithful Myra Lea. 



The Joy of Living 



THE JOY OF LIVING. 



IIS the gladness, 
Not the sadness, 

I Of this world should be reviewed. 

Would each writer 
Saw the brighter 
Side, through glasses rosy-hued. 
Let the cheerful 
Buoy the tearful, 
And the strong aid those who fall. 
For the blessedness of giving 
Is the blissfulness of living 
To us all. 



lO 



A New Yearns Greeting 



A NEW YEAR'S GREETING 



lATHER Time, throughout the ages. 
Regularly turns the pages 

I Of his volume. So again 

A year is spent and nineteen ten 
Appears upon a snowy leaf, 
In prospect long, yet all too brief 
Wherein to hold 
Things manifold 
Which one has planned to do. 
And now this calendar is o'er. 
And nineteen ten is at the door, 
I wish there may be many more, 
Replete with happiness, in store 
For you. 



II 



To Katharine 



TO KATHARINE 



LESSINGS on thee, little maid, 

With face so fair and eyes so blue, 

And lips upon which Nature laid 

A touch of cherry's ripest hue. 
The saucy dimples come and go 
And play about thy dainty chin; 
A glimpse of coquetry they show, 
Sweet Katharine. 



12 



Rosamond 



ROSAMOND 



H" IROM out the twilit sky there fell 

Twin stars as azure as the bell 
, I In yonder dell. 

And all the rosy-tinted morn 
Of sunbeams, golden as the corn, 

Was gently shorn: 
So Fate decreed, that eyes and hair 
Might be beyond compare. 

The varied charms of every flower 
Most reverenced in Nature's bower 

Became her dower: 
While jewels of the purest kind — 
Chaste meditations, intertwined, 

Instilled her mind. 
Thus Nature touched but to adorn — 
And Rosamond was born. 



13 



A S u f/r a g e t t e 



A SUFFRAGETTE 



B] 



LD King Sol arose one day, 

Glanced o'er the world and far away, 
When suddenly, high in the sky, 



Fair Mistress Moon did he espy. 

"What ho! What ho!" the monarch cried: 
"Am I by Mistress Moon defied? 
What! I, the ruler of the sky? — 
How dares she thus my might defy?" 

But Mistress Moon for Sol cared naught ; 
She cared not what he said nor thought ; 
But dozed, clad in her silver sheen. 
As though King Sol she ne'er had seen. 

Then old King Sol more angry grew. 
And round about his sunbeams threw. 
He vowed he'd melt fair Mistress Moon 
In hottest rays of blazing noon. 

The sunbeams shot to no avail; 

The pale moon grew no whit more pale; 

So Sol gave up in sheer despair. 

And drove his chariot through the air. 

And thus the mistress won the fight ; 
She's in the sky from morn till night: 
No matter how the monarch scolds, 
She knows her rights — her rights she holds. 

14 



Grannie's Knitting 



S 



GRANNIE'S KNITTING 

R ANNIE'S sitting with her knitting 
By the window, in her chair, 
In and out the needles flitting, 



Barely pausing in the air. 

All is cosy, bright and rosy 

From the glowing grate near by. 

Grannie feels a trifle dozy — 

Shuts her eyes, and breathes a sigh. 

Soon she's stirring; all unerring 
Up she takes her work again. 

And the sticks are fairly whirring. 
Making up the time they've lain. 



15 



T h e 'Betrothal 



THE BETROTHAL 



(( 



S 



EE, Lotta, thy lover is coming this way, 
Whilst there thou art dreamily sitting. 
He's bringing the ring with him now, I 
aare say; 

So hasten to meet him 
And tenderly greet him. 
My dear, in a manner befitting." 

Thus spoke Lotta's mother, the forester's wife, 
From the kitchen where, bent on her labor, 
She skillfully handled her ladle and knife. 
The dainties preparing 
With effort unsparing, 
Nor pausing while greeting a neighbor. 

Tomorrow the feast of betrothal was due, 
And the air of the cottage was festive. 
The larder was teeming with viand and brew ; 
Yet Lotta, the bride. 
And the forester's pride, 
Was secretly, plaintively restive. 

As Lotta, bewitching, in modest array, 

One morn had sat busily churning, 
A handsome young huntsman had paused on 
his way ; 

And shyly she laughed 
When he drank in a draught 
Of the milk to an early returning. 

16 



The 'Betrothal 



The heart of the maiden would flutter anew 

With gladness whene'er she perceived him; 
While he grew more ardent with each 
interview, 

Protesting devotion, 
With tender emotion — 
And trustingly Lotta believed him. 

Then followed long days when he never 
returned 
To the maiden whose love he had taken — 
Who wearily waited and constantly yearned. 
While bitterly grieving 
At slowly conceiving 
Herself to be coldly forsaken. 

Now, Forester Fritz and the miller were gay 

At the pleasing result of their scheming; 
(For Lotta had always been used to obey) 
While Otto, enchanted 
At having supplanted 
All rivals, with rapture was beaming. 



The day of betrothal was dismally gray. 
And damp with the falHng of showers. 
The cottage was gay with abundant display 
Of pewter and plate, 
Never used but for state, 
And sweet with the odor of flowers. 

17 



The "Betrothal 



With many a taper, as darkness advanced, 

The cottage was brilliantly lighted. 
The villagers came and both feasted and 
danced, 

With many a toast 
To the hostess and host 
And the couple whose troths had been 
plighted. 

Within all was merry and bright, while the 
night 
Grew wilder with crashes of thunder. 
The heavens were rent by forked flashes of 
Hght — 

When abruptly a shout 
From the darkness without 
Brought all to a standstill in wonder. 

"Who's there?" cried the forester. "Enter, I 
pray ; 
The more the more welcome and cheery." 
*T," came the reply, "have mistaken my way. 
For the castle I'm bound, 
But I've ridden around 
In a maze through the storm till I'm weary." 

"'Tis My Lord!" in amazement the forester 
cried ; 
"The betrothed of her Highness! Believe: 
me, 



T h e Betrothal 



Your Lordship should bide for the storm to 
subside" — 

"Nay, Forester, nay; 
I must speed on my way ; 
Long since had they thought to receive me." 

The villagers clustered to watch him depart, 

Applauding the pledge he was keeping; 
But Lotta retired with tumultuous heart 
To her chamber, where, prone. 
By the casement, alone, 
She gazed at him, blinded with weeping. 



19 



spring Song 



SPRING SONG 



B' lET cheer 
Banish tear, 
, I And bid smiles reappear, 

For the sunbeams have kissed 
Every vestige of mist 
From the morn, and the robins are caroling 
clear 
In the tops of the trees. 
While the soft southern breeze 
Is heralding widely that springtime is here. 
Rejoice 
Every voice. 
And as buoyantly sing 
As the robins are singing a welcome to spring. 



20 



T^ h e Easter Bonnet 



^ 



THE EASTER BONNET 

OST bewitching Easter bonnet! 
Pink, with roses strewn upon it; 
Frilled and laced, 
And satin-faced — 
Quickly she prepared to don it. 

Clearly her determination 
Was to own the fair creation; 

Yet she tried 

Her scheme to hide 
With an air of hesitation. 

Suddenly — he'll not deny it — 
When he saw her archly try it, 

Then and there 

And scarce aware, 
He had plead that he might buy it. 



21 



M a c k i n a c Wo o d s 



MACKINAC WOODS 



fTTJlHERE shall we wander? 
k i J Where fancy leads, 
iui^l Afar off yonder 

Where no one heeds. 

Along the trail where 

The woods are deep, 

And balsam-steeped air 

Induces sleep. 

The shades are longer 
As on we go; 
The scent is stronger, 
And, ere we know. 
Our steps grow slower. 
Our eyelids lower. 
As, breeze caressed. 
The balsams o'er us 
Breathe low, in chorus, 
A drowsy "Rest." 



22 



Tw i I i g h t at Ma c k i n a c 



TWILIGHT AT MACKINAC 



D 



HE west is aglow at the kiss of the sun; 
The indolent sails that went roaming 
Come lazily home, now the day is done 
To anchor at length in the gloaming. 



The birds are at vespers high up in the trees ; 

The balsams are crooning a blessing; 
The water, now brushed by the breath of the 
breeze , 

Is dimpling beneath its caressing. 

The lights of the harbor gleam one by one ; 

The glow with the gloaming is blending; 
And over the world, now the dusk is done, 

The shadow of night is descending. 



23 



An October Day 



AN OCTOBER DAY 



IH, the autumn leaves are flying, 

And the plaintive wind is sighing, 

I For the late October day is damp and 

dreary ; 
But we care not what the weather be 
When gathered here together we 

Draw closer to the fire, 
While the flames leap higher, higher, 
And the atmosphere within is warm and 
cheery. 



24 



The S e a s n ^ s End 



THE SEASON'S END 
Youth 



lUTUMN is heralding Hallowe'en 

Hasten today, welcome tomorrow. 
I Harvest is ripe and the blast is keen — 
Hasten today, welcome tomorrow. 
Life is the veriest merriest thing! 
What are the joys which the morrow will 

bring ? 
Winter and snow and so-ho! we sing — 
Hasten today, welcome tomorrow. 



Age 

Autumn is heralding fall o' year — 

Linger today, tomorrow is sorrow. 

Winter of life is now drawing near — 

Linger today, tomorrow is sorrow. 

Leaves as they fall are as lives that are spent, 

Sapped of their strength, seared, useless and 

rent. 
The summit is gained; begun the descent — 
Linger today, tomorrow is sorrow . 



25 



Snow -flakes 



SNOW-FLAKES 



IHE wintry wind went racing 
Over mountain, over wold, 

I And the many mortals facing 

It were shivering with cold ; 
When a little spirit overhead 
Wrapped snugly in its featherbed 
Looked down upon the world and said: 
"Now why not spare 
A bit and share 
Our comforts with them all down there?" 

And so 
The featherbeds went overflowing, 

Andlo! 
The mortals said that it was snowing! 



26 



A Christmas Card 



A CHRISTMAS CARD 



IING a song of Christinas time — 
Mistletoe and Hollyberry! 

I Lend an ear unto my rhyme, 

Bidding you be very merry ; 
Trusting the ensuing year 
May fulfill each wish most dear, 
Adding to it every cheer 
And rejoicing — 
Hereby voicing 
All my wishes, most sincere. 



27 



The Man in the Moon 



THE MAN IN THE MOON 



rrrrjlHAT a placid old man is the man in the 
Li J moon — 

lAJI Heigh-ho! Isn't it so? 
He goes sailing along in his silver balloon 
While the clouds scurry round in a weird 

rigadoon 
To the restless, tempestuous wind's shrilly- 
tune — 

Heigh-ho ! 

His inscrutable mien is sedately serene — 

Heigh-ho! Isn't it so? 
As he lazily sails on his endless routine, 
Unconcerned, though the elements fiercely 

convene ; 
A prince paramount of his lofty demesne — 

Heigh-ho ! 



28 



i n g a Song of Happiness 



SING A SONG OF HAPPINESS 



rralHEREFORE sit a-grieving 
I '.'J When a thing goes wrong? 
lumi Though vexations come, they 

Never Hnger long. 
So 

Look upon the bright side 

And sing another song ; 

What's the use of worrying 

When Httle things go wrong ? 

Some are prone to ponder 
Why mishaps befall; 
Some are wont to wonder 
Why they live at all. 

So 
To them who sing of sorrow, 
Whose days are dull and gray, 
Sing a song of happiness 
And drive their care away. 



29 



To a M iniature 



TO A MINIATURE 



nHOU bit of ivory incased in gold, 
With muslin fichu, filmy cap so sheer; 
I A reminiscence of the days of old: 
That slender, oval face, with blue eyes clear, 
Which fain would speak, yet leave words still 

untold ; 
Framed by rich auburn tresses, falling low 
On slender snow, white throat and muslin fold^ 
With tendrils clinging to the classic brow. 
The satin cheek is as the damask rose, 
Embellished by the tender flush of youth; 
And in each feature of that artless pose 
Appear incarnate, purity and truth: 
Yet now those mobile lips have ceased to move 
Which erstwhile framed and uttered words of 

love. 



30 



In A r c a d y 



IN ARCADY 







CHANCED upon an avenue 

Where Love and Youth were playing; 
Youth hearkening as Love did woo, 
Instinctively obeying. 
Entranced, 
I glanced, 
And then advanced, 
The brighter for delaying. 



31 



The JVind' Flower 



THE WIND-FLOWER 



I WIND came up from out the sea, 
And, rustling through a glade, 

I Espied a wee anemone 

A-growing there beneath a tree, 
And nestling in its shade. 

"Ah! pretty flower, ah! gentle flower," 

Quoth he, with pleasing grace, 
"Why dost thou lie there hour by hour, 
When I might take thee to a bower 

More suited to thy face?" 

"Thou art most kind, oh gracious Sir, 

And yet I greatly fear 
That should I from this hollow stir 
Into the world's great busy whir, 

I'd pine within the year." 

"That shouldst thou not," the bold wind said; 

And flattered her, and sighed; 
Then, failing thus, he softly plead. 
Until her heart with pity bled. 

And blushing she complied. 

Alas ! again the wind blew past 

Within the very hour; 
His passing fancy could not last. 
And so unto the earth he cast 

The tender little flower. 

32 



Th e IVi n d - Flower 



Ah, woe is me! ah, woe is me!" 

The stricken blossom cried; 
"I should have stayed at home with thee, 
Thou sheltering and kindly tree." 

And then she smiled and died. 



33 



Sonny 



SONNY 



m 



E'S my only little sonny; 

And the sweetest ever born. 
Just as sweet as clover honey 



And as sunny as the morn. 

Sunny curls and sunny smile, 
Dancing dimples that beguile, 
Coming, going all the while — ■ 
Sunbeams every one. 

Soon my little one must grow; 
Curls and dimples both must go. 
Oh, that I might keep him so — 
Just a little son! 



34 



The Chaperon Speaks 



THE CHAPERON SPEAKS 



B 



OURTEENTH day of February! 
Maids and bachelors be wary 
When a certain subtle fairy 
Launches forth his darts. 

Some, as I've heard tell, deride him; 
Some, as well, have quite defied him; 
One and all we've ne'er espied him 
Practicing his arts. 

For elusive is this fairy. 
Airy, wary, arbitrary. 
So take care lest he ensnare ye 
In his game of Hearts. 



35 



m 



I n M y L a d y ^ s Chamber 



IN MY LADY'S CHAMBER 

{My Lady (dronvsily) 

PEN the casement, Anne, that I 
May bathe mine eyes in morning dew 
And lend mine ears unto the cry 



Of the bHthesome thrush in yonder yew. 
Tire-ivoman {thronjoing open the casement) 

Your Ladyship, the morn is fair; 

The thrushes sing where the yew tree sighs, 

And the garden roses scent the air. 

Will your Ladyship be pleased to rise? 

My Lady {^wearily) 

Ah me! my head doth sorely ache, 
So leave me, Anne, you need not wait. 
Methinks I did too early wake. 
Go fetch my dish of chocolate. 

Tire-ivoman {lingering) 

My Lady, straightway do I go. 
And yet might I make bold to say 
My Lord hath wandered to and fro 
Since faintest flush of break o' day. 

My Lady {petulantly) 

An' think you that I wish to know 

In what strange way my Lord doth spend 

His valuable time ? Nay — go, 

And seek your forward ways to mend! 

36 



In My Lady's Chamber 



Tire-iuoman {aside) 

La! Here's a pretty pot o' fish! 

My Lord in grievance down below— 

My Lady here with ne'er a wish 

His Lordship's whereabouts to know. 

, , ... . . V (exit) 

My Lady {sohloquiztng) 

Ah, heaven! Wherefore did I leave 
My parents' roof for such as this! 
Where I am left alone to grieve 
Whilst he doth gaUivant, I wis. 

I'll not submit — I'll not remain — 
I'll hie me thither with but Anne! 
His pleading shall be all in vain. 
I will not hearken to the man. 

{ivistfully) 

The morn doth scarce appear so fair 
As Anne remarked on looking out. 
But, hist ! — a step upon the stair — 
I wonder what my Lord's about! 

(eagerly) 

Mayhap he thinks me still asleep! 
Perchance'tis he upon the stair! 
In truth I'll through the key-hole peep 
And note his Lordship unaware. 

'Tis nearing now my very door — 
La, what a most uncertain state! 
'Tis here — Anne! Ah, you fearful bore — 
Nay, I'll not taste the chocolate! 

37 



In My L a d y' s Chamber 

Tire-iuoman (coaxingly) 

Come, take, I pray your Ladyship, 

A morsel of this Hght repast. 

Of chocolate but take a sip 

To break your Ladyship's long fast. 

My Lord {ivithout) 

Egad! Will not my Lady eat? 
Come hither, Anne, present her this. 

My Lady 

Ah, heaven! how my heart doth beat — 
Is aught, Anne, with my robe amiss? 

Tire-ivoman 

Your Ladyship, my Lord hath sent, 
To tempt your dainty appetite, 
These berries, trusting you have spent 
A restful, quite unwakeful night. 

My Lady (joyfully) 

Oh, Anne, you saucy minx, away! 
Nor stand thus lingering to prate! 
Arrange this curl and this — but nay ! 
I'll have my Lord no longer wait. 

My Lord (entering) 

My lady-love! Ay, verily 

'Tis love which overcometh wrath. 

Come — don thy gown and stroll with me 

A-down the dew-kissed garden path. 

Curtain. 

38 



speaking of Incubators 



SPEAKING OF INCUBATORS 



B] 



LD Mother Plymouth Rock affirms : 
While incubators "do," 
They cannot scratch about for worms 
As Mother does for you. 



They're popular, as I've heard tell, 
These queer new-fangled things ; 

And yet withal they can't excel 
Your mother's ample wings. 



39 



A Hunt on the Mountain 

A HUT ON THE MOUNTAIN 
Written in 1900 



m 



IGH up on the mountain side, covered 
with vines, 
Stands the hut where the wood-cutters 
bide ; 
Where at length they tramp wearily home 
through the pines 
To sit watching the coming evetide. 

The housewife in apron and cap makes the 
broth. 

While the men tell their stories outside ; 
The table she spreads with a snowy white cloth 

For the meal of the still eventide. 

The hut now is cold and deserted and still ; 

No longer it glows 'mid the pines : 
No longer lie crumbs for the birds on the sill — 

But still it stands, covered with vines. 



40 



The Daffodil 



THE DAFFODIL 
Written in 1901 

The Child 



fa 



RETTY little daffodil, 

Growing on the grassy hill, 

Oh, just let me gather thee — 

Thou'rt so sweet and fresh to see. 



The Flower 

Prithee, little maiden dear, 
Do not pluck me, for I fear 
That I should be cast away 
Ere there dawned another day. 



41 



Loch invar Up to Date 



LOCHINVAR UP TO DATE 



H! Albert Clarke Raleigh's come out of 

the west, 
I Like young Lochinvar, a fair lady his- 
quest ; 
And save Cupid's arrows, he weapons had 

none ; 
He came all unarmed, and he came all alone, 
To carry off Jessie McCutcheon afar, 
To the mounts of Montana, this young 
Lochinvar. 

So boldly he entered the Binderton hall, 
Among bridesmen and kinsmen, and brothers. 

and all. 
So stately his form and so charming her face 
That never a hall such a couple did grace. 
The bride, with a smile, tossed her shower 

bouquet. 
And amid a rice hailstorm they hastened away. 

One touch to her hand and one word in her ear,. 
When they reached the hall door, and the 

motor stood near. 
So light to the tonneau the lady he swung. 
So light to the cushions beside her he sprung. 
"She is won — we are gone over bank, bush and 

scaur 
On our honeymoon journey!" quoth young 

Lochinvar. 

42 



A Token 



A TOKEN 



D 



In 



HE wine shop in the ancient rue Conde 
Resounded with a merry, motley throng, 
Assembled there to while the hours away 
ow debauchery with wine and song. 



Presiding at the counter, old Marie 
Gazed sullenly upon the sordid scene 
Of low carousal, carnal revelry, 
No smile upon her sour and jaded mien. 

A woman passed, and from her arms a child 

Gazed innocently on the revelry; 

Then, from its throne, turned back and 

sweetly smiled 
Upon the hardened face of old Marie. 

And she, who in long years had never smiled. 
Acknowledged then the tribute of a child. 



43 



An Acceptance 



AN ACCEPTANCE 



D 



N pleasant contemplation 
I accept your invitation 
For the afternoon of Tuesday on the 
twenty-first of May. 

With decided trepidation 
I shall polish up my wits. 
For the witty 
Of the city 
Will be gathered on that day. 
Then all haste to my dress-maker, 
With materials to take her, 
For a special new creation — 
Let us only hope it fits ! 



44 



1(^e g r e t s 



REGRETS 



Homeward bound on the S. S. Graf Waldersee 
Reply to J. W.'s "Tea-party invitation." 



previous engagement forces me to stay 
away. 
I Believe me, I am quite as disappointed 

as can be. 
Perhaps, if I'm invited, I will come some other 

day, 
Behind the ventilator, on the upper deck to 
tea. 

Your vis-a-vis 
M. D. 



45 



13 



An Invitation 

AN INVITATION 
{Mackinac) 

ENNET Hall— 

With keen anticipation, 
I extend this invitation 
To you all. 



As the day is bleak and dreary, 
And there's nothing much to do; 

Come and help me make it cheery 
With a cup of tea or two. 

There's a chance it may be other 
Than a tea — don't know as yet; 

All arrangements left to Mother — 
But do come, and don't forget. 



46 



the Bride 



TO THE BRIDE 



BAN Cupid hath a passion, 
In his quaint, capricious fashion, 
I For the subtle role of go-between, nor 

will he be denied. 

Thus through him is love requited, 
Troths are plighted, hearts united. 
Here's a tribute then to Cupid, and a health 
unto the Bride ! 



47 



Retribution 

RETRIBUTION 
Or The Selfish Owl 



IHE owl glanced up at the wet round moon 
And "Tu-whit!" quoth he, 

_J ^' 'Tis plain to see 

That a storm is brewing; 'twill be here soon; 
So I'll shelter me 
In yon hollow tree." 

Two owlets came to the hollow tree. 

"Pray, do not say 

That we may not stay," 
They plead, but the old owl cried "Tu-whee!" 

And turned them away 

Without delay. 

The heavens blackened, the wild wind blew, 

The lightning flashed 

And the thunder crashed. 
But the old owl chuckled and cried "Tu-whoo!" 

All unabashed 

As the Furies lashed. 

And the owlets wandered to and fro. 

While the owl in glee 

From the hollow tree 
Laughed as he watched them turn to go. 

And "Tu-whit!" quoth he, 

Right merrily. 

48 



'Retribution 

Quoth the owl "Tu-whoo! and glad am I 

That I sheltered me 

Thus thoughtfully!" 
When a flaming bolt from the storm-swept sky 

Struck suddenly 

At the hollow tree. 

When the storm had passed, and through a 
haze 

The moon shone bright 

On a peaceful night, 
The little owlets came to gaze 

On the sorry sight 

Of the old owl's plight. 



49 



The M r n i n g Star 



THE MORNING STAR 



nMPATIENT, worn, fatigued, I lie from 
want of rest, 
I Tossing upon my bed when sleep has 

ceased: 
Riding delirious upon a billow's crest. 

When, lo! I look into the brightening east, 
And there I see, high in the heavens afar, 
Shining, glorious, the morning star. 

I raise myself. I look with joy upon the light ; 

How peaceful and how still the planet seems ! 
My lids grow heavy with the restful sight ; 

I slowly drift into the land of dreams. 

Yet still I seem to see in heaven afar. 

Shining, beauteous, the morning star. 



50 



T> ew - Fall 



DEW-FALL 




shadow's fallen on the sun, 
And on a cheek a tear 
^ Lies dew4ike, now the day is done, 
And slumber time is near. 

The zephyr with its sobbing sigh 
Comes whispering at the pane, 

And breathes a tender lullaby, 
Then steals away again. 

The moon is full of misty tears ; 

The stars are bUnking, too; 
And o'er the drowsy world appears 

A coverlet of dew. 

Come, cuddle down and snuggle down, 

For slumber time is here; 
And Sleepy Town will smooth the frown 

And dry away the tear. 



51 



By - L 



BY-LO 



D 



WI LIGHT is here and the wee stars show- 
Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
Wee weary eyehds are drooping low — 
Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
Someone I know is ready to go 
Off to the garden where fantasies grow; 
Hush-a-by, rock-a-by, isn't it so? 
Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 

The Dream-boat we'll take with its phantom 
crew — 

Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
You and Mother, dear, just we two — 

Heigh-ho, sing by-lo — 
Then off we will sail on the Sea of Dew 
Till the shores of Dreamland come to view; 
Hush-a-by, rock-a-by, isn't it true? 

Heigh-ho, sing by-lo. 



52 



An Idle Lay 



AN IDLE LAY 



C3 



HILE I lay idly whiling 

Sunny springtime hours away- 
For the hammock was beguiling 



And the day was one in May- 

Oh, I might have written many 
Things — the thoughts were in my head- 
But I never finished any 
For — I went to sleep instead. 



53 



Dorothy T r o t t and the Spider 



DOROTflY TROTT AND THE SPIDER 



IS 



ISS Dorothy Trott, 

In her pink polkadot, 
Was up in the attic at play, 
When she gave a great scream, 
For down from a beam 
A spider was making his way. 
"Ah — ha!" said the spider, 
"I'll sit down beside her 
As I sat by Miss Muffet one day!" 
But Miss Dorothy Trott 
Said, "Well, I guess not!" 
And the spider was killed right away. 



54 



Tommy L o v e j o y 



TOMMY LOVEJOY 



HH, Tommy Love joy 
Was an angel-faced boy 
Who always said "Please" and "No, 

thank you." 

Whose mother was never — 
That is, hardly ever — 
Compelled to say, "Mind, or I'll spank you!" 
His heart was so kind 
That one day he confined 
His dog in the closet to whimper. 
"Because he will shout 
With joy to get out," 
Said Tommy Lovejoy with a simper. 



55 



Angelica M tide 



ANGELICA MILDE 

NGELICA Milde 

Was a credulous child 
Immune from all effort to joke her; 
Whose father preferred 
To bridge whist, I have heard, 



m 



The older diversion of poker. 

One morning while shaking 
Her poor little quaking 

Angora, she cried "What a pity! 
It simply won't come. 
And 'twas such a big sum 

That Daddy put into the kitty." 



56 



Naughty Billy 



NAUGHTY BILLY 

IHE time our rector came to tea 
He ate up all the angel food, 

And Billy was so mad that he 

Just up and hollered "Hully Gee! 

There ain't a single bit for me!" 

And Pa said, "Silence! Don't be rude!" 

And then there was an awful scene, 

'Cause Pa was mad and Ma was sad; 

But Billy hid behind the screen, 

And, "What's the difference between 

Them two?" he said to Mr. Green. 

"Why, Ma's madame and Pa's d n mad. 

And Mr. Green was shocked, and then 
He never came to tea again. 



57 



Lullaby Land 



LULLABY LAND 



HH, Lullaby Land is a wonderful place; 
The trees are all trimmed with a spun 
I sugar lace ; 

There are ginger-bread houses with candy- 
cane lanes, 
And for common conveyances, rocking-chair 

trains. 
The jungles are brimful of animals rare, 
And the king of them all is an old Teddy Bear. 

So, ho! for the mystical, air-castled shore 
Of Lullaby Land with its fairy folk-lore. 
Where merry old Santa Claus rules his domain 
In the principal highway called Evergreen 

Lane. 
Away on the trail, for it's not very far 
If you follow the tail of a wee shooting star. 



58 



T h e Manx Cat 



THE MANX CAT 



lOOR tailless pussy cat ! if I 
Were only very rich, 

The very first thing I would buy 

Would be for you a switch; 
And where your tail should grow, I'd try 
The little switch to hitch — oh, my ! 
But what a pretty pussy cat 
You'd be if I could just do that ! 



59 



The Village Cobbler 



THE VILLAGE COBBLER 

HE cobbler plies, with a tick-tack-too, 
His magic tools on the leathern shoe, 
And pulls his needle through and through 
With worthy industry, 



Till candle lighting time draws near, 

And shining stars through the dusk appear, 

When work is done and all is cheer 

A merry merry man is he. 



D 



60 



When Miss Helen Goes J-PFa I k ing 

WHEN MISS HELEN GOES A-WALKING 
Written in 1900 



ca 



HEN Miss Helen goes a-walking, 
You can hear the people talking 
Of her figure, and her grace, 
And her pretty oval face. 



When she walks without her mother 

All the lads can see no other. 

Quick they whisper, ''Here she comes!" 
And bring forth their sugar plums. 

If at one she glances kindly. 
Back he crowds the others blindly. 
Bliss with her to stroll and talk 
When Miss Helen goes to walk. 



6 1 



Heart o * M i n e 



HEART O' MINE 



IHE mother bird is cooing all her little ones 
to rest 

I 'Neath the swaying hemlock branches, 

in the lofty-hanging nest. 
And the evening zephyr, crooning, rocks it 

gently to and fro, 
While the glow worms in the darkness light 
their lanterns down below. 



Hush-a-by, 'tis slumber time 

Heart o' mine. 
Close each eye for there's the chime, 

Heart o' mine, 
Of the curfew tolling eight 
Oh, the sandman's very late, 
But we have not long to wait. 

Heart o' mine. 



The starlit world is silent and the dew is on the 

lea; 
The tardy moon is peering cautiously above 

the sea; 
And the fireflies are flitting to the crickets' 

serenade, 
While the lonely owl is roaming in the dark, 

deserted glade. 

62 



Heart o' Mine 



Hush-a-bye, 'tis slumber time, 

Heart o' mine. 
Close each eye for there's the chime, 

Heart o' mine, 
Of the curfew tolling eight— 
Oh, the sandman's very late ! 
But we have not long to wait, 

Heart o' mine. 



63 



Evensong 



EVENSONG 



IHE lady moon is sailing on her way 
Among the clouds of gray. 

I The little stars are blinking wearily 

At you and me. 
Come, close your eyes and hear the crickets' 
song. 
They too will sleep ere long. 
And every little bird is in its nest, 
At rest, at rest. 

The low wind lisps a drowsy lullaby 

And wafts the night owl's cry. 
The evening mists are falling stealthily 

O'er land and sea. 
Come, close your eyes and journey toward the 
shore 
Of Dreamland folk and lore. 
The moon will guide you by her silver light — 
Good-night, good-night! 



64 



M a r g i n s of the 'Day 



MARGINS OF THE DAY 



IHE dawn has come, as o'er the heavens a 
rosy Hght 

I Steals lovingly, dispelling one by one 

The truant stars, last vestige of a waning 
night, _ 
Proclaiming to the world a day begun. 

The dusk has come, as from the fading dome 
of sky 
The sun drops hidden in a bank of cloud. 
The silver moon appears, at first but pale and 
shy, 
And darkness wraps the world as in a 
shroud. 



6s 



m 



A u R e V i r 



AU REVOIR. 

E mourn not the leaves in the fall of the 
year, 
For we know, 

Though the snow 
Bids them vanish, that lo! 
Ere long with the robin's song they will appear^ 

And thus will it be with our halcyon hours, - 
For although 
We all go 
Divers ways, oh! I know 
We shall all meet again with the bloom of the 
lowers. 



66 



iAH 10 ISIO 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



